A police investigation has found that a man who went on a stabbing spree in Taipei last month acted alone and that the fall from a building that killed him was not an accident, but police remain unsure of what motivated the attacks.
The 27-year-old suspect, Chang Wen (張文), killed three people and injured 11 during the attack. He fell from the rooftop of the Eslite Spectrum Nanxi store near MRT Zhongshan Station on Dec. 19 after being pursued by police, and was later pronounced dead.
The investigation found that he planned the attack meticulously and began buying supplies, including gas masks and smoke grenades, more than a year and a half ago.
Photo: CNA
Before the attack, Chang destroyed his laptop and left his bank account nearly empty, police said.
He chose the department store rooftop as his route, and the angle of his fall indicated it was not accidental, according to police.
The investigation gained access to files Chang had stored online, showing he planned the attack ahead of time and executed it largely according to his plan, while also indicating that he acted alone.
Police said they still had not determined a clear motive behind Chang’s actions, despite the considerable amount of information they accessed.
The investigation looked into Chang’s time in school, military service and work history, and found no evidence that he was bullied in school or the military, they said.
Police suggested that other factors might have contributed to his actions.
Police said the investigation is ongoing, and that its final report is expected to be released soon.
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